Loom



April 30, 1957 S. BATTNER LOOM s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1954 ATTORNEY S. BATTNER April 30, 1957 LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1954 llb Ila

ATTORN EY {ie phei ,Bdiiner April 30, 1957 s. BATTNER 2,790,465

LOOM

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 23, 1954 Hill.

nun- 4 W s ATTO R N EY LOOM Stephen Battner, Jamaica Estate, N. Y., assignor to C. R. Daniels, Inc., Daniels, Md, a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1954, Serial No. 445,416

6 Claims. (Cl. 139-55) This invention relates to improvements in looms, especially in looms for weaving heavy work such as belting.

In conventional looms used for such purposes, cams are used for moving the heddles containing warp. In such cam looms, the travel of the heddle is necessarily fixed, once the loom has been set up. Further, with such prior art cam looms, when there is a break in any of the warps, it is necessary to release the tension on the material in the loom. After the break in the warp is repaired, the beams have to be moved backwards, and all tension properly adjusted before weaving can be resumed. Also in multi-cam looms, cams are fastened to a loom shaft, since each revolution of a shaft is one pick. These cams must be constructed so that they function smoothly while lifting some heddles and holding others in position so that the shuttle will have ample room to pass between the warps. Since some cams do more work than others, the cams Wear unevenly causing uneven motions of the heddles. In addition, when replaced, it is not possible merely to replace the most worn cams, but all of them have to be replaced.

It should be kept in mind that there may be as many as 26 heddles to a 12 ply belt. Consequently, the space required for proper motion of a cam, is very limited in length and width. Also consideration is required to the problem of lint given off from the yarn when the loom is in operation, due to high tension on the warps. The lint settles down on cams, and since cams have to be oiled to run smoothly, lint settling down in cam grooves will cause the cams to stick.

Among the objects of the present invention isincluded structures wherein warp breakage is reduced to a minimum and in addition repair of warp is simplified.

Other objects include structures wherein it is unnecessary to move all warp beams or to loosen the tension on all warp beams in order to repair brokenwarps and restore the loom to normal operation.

Further objects include the provision of pneumatically operated separately-powered harness levers for the vertical reciprocation of the heddles in forming the shed, thereby dispensing with cams and levers from the loom shaft to the heddle frames.

.Further objects include pneumatically operated independently powered harness frames and heddles in a loom, controlled by a selector drum and pins thereon, to regulate the sequence of vertical reciprocating movements of heddles in conjunction with the throwing of the loom to permit more eflicient multiple ply weaving operations.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that such more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only, and

not by way of limitation since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The drawings show the following: o Fig. 1, a side elevation of a loomm odified according to the invention;

States Patent 2,790,465 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 Figure 2, a front perspective of a loom modified according to the invention;

Figure 3, a side elevation of a detail of the invention;

Figure 4, a side elevation of a detail of the invention;

Figure 5, an end in elevation of a detail of the invention; a

Figure 6, "an end view of a detail of the invention; and

Figure 7, a side view of a detail of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the cam mechanisms used in the prior art for engaging the shaft of the power loom to control vertical reciprocation of the heddles, are replaced with pneumatically-operated and separately powered levers which provide for movement of the harness frames and heddles independently of the movement of the loom shaft to permit improved weaving of heavy work such as belting etc. free of the difliculties and disadvantages of cam mechanisms heretofore in use. Further, higher weaving speeds are attained with less breakage of threads, and the shed motion is not limited by the revolution of the loom shaft as in prior art cam type looms.

To control the pneumatically operated, separately powered harness levers, the invention provides one or more multiple port control valves operated by a control drum carrying pins to actuate levers actuating pneumatically the sequence of separate harness frames and corresponding heddles. The pins are arranged on the drum to give a predetermined pattern or arrangement. Multiple loom structures heretofore used have been very large and complex and their operating speed has been reduced because of the great forces required to batten the threads. This disadvantage is substantially eliminated in accordance with the invention since the control moves faster than the conventional shaft cams.

By virtue of the control drum pin arrangement, the control may be readily'changed to convert the-loom for the weaving of any number of plies (as limited by the heddles) as desired, and a 2 or 3 ply loom may be readily modified to do the work of a much larger loom. Because of the rapid movement of the heddles which are positively and independently controlled by the control This feature of the combination of the controlarrangement and the pneumatic valve to control the heddle operation in lieu of cam control, is not to be confused with the use of pattern cylinder and pneumatic mechanisms in pattern, twilling or Jacquard looms, since the latter looms are still cam operated looms with the above-disadvantages despite the coaction with the pattern cylinder. The present invention is particularly valuable in handling 'lieavy yarns and in Weaving heavy fabrics, such as belt-j ing, and the problems of particular importance in heavy weaving are not encountered in ordinary one ply yarn weaving which is patterned, twilled or otherwise'modified.

The flexibility of the present arrangement and con-V struction is noteworthy. When desirable, two or more. selectors may be used on either or both sides of the machine to controlthe harness and heddle movement.

The sequence of shuttle andheddle movements are controlled by means of a suitable ratchet connection toga, notch in a series of notches on the selector drum and from the loom shaft which controls the shuttle.

Referring to the illustrative device, shown in the drawings in Figs. ,1 and 2, the conventional loom is utilized but modified for purposes of the present invention. Loom framelcarries-the. auxiliary frame 2, while. frame. ceiling 3 Serves to suspend a plurality of pneumatic cylinders 4 from supporting lugs 5 which are attached to ceiling 3; Eachof said. cylinders is provided. with connections 6 and 7 for conveying pneumatic fluid :(ai'r) from multiple-port: control valve 8 to cylinder. 4.. Connections 6 and 1 alternate in carrying pneumatic fluid under. pressure totthe cylinder 4, so that when 6 is conveying the fluid, 7 is at atmospheric pressure and vice versa.

Piston: rod 9 reciprocates connecting rod 10 up and down in accordance with the direction and pressure of the pneumatic fluid from cylinder 4. The other end of connecting; rod It) is operatively joined to the conventionaliharness levers 11, 11a and 11b which actuate tie rods 12 that suspend harnessframes 13 in spaced relation from each other for the usual reciprocating movement and forming the shed for throwing of. the shuttle. The harness frames, the shuttle and the mounting of the heddleson pulleys from the harness frame are all the same as in the conventional power loom, and are therefore not shown in detail, and the several plies are fed fromfyarn beams 21,v 22, 23, 24, 25, etc. on retractable yarn beam frame 20, while the finished woven fabric is taken up on cloth beam 14 at the other end of frame 1, all as on conventional looms. Picker stick 28 is also a conventional showing, the shuttle box (not shown) conventionally resting against the picker stick. Reducing gears 29 are also conventional, controlling the let-E in the usual way.

Loom shaft 15, as shown in Fig. l, is fitted at its end to wheel 16. The connecting arm 17 at one end 17a is eccentrically mounted on wheel 16 and connected at the other end to'bell-crank 18, carrying'ratchet lever or pawl 19. Upon throwing the loom clutch in, the rotation of shaft 15 reciprocates said connecting arm 17 and bellcrank 18 each revolution of wheel 16 moving ratchet lever or pawl 19 one step to advance the ratchet wheel 30. onestep and with it the integrally fastened control drum-shaft 31 and. the control drum. 26. Ratchet wheel 30 is held-fast to one end. of the. control drum shaft 31 by locknut 32 or any other suitable fastening means which is readily detachable (see. Fig. 4). The stepwise movement of control. drum 26 by the movement of ratchet wheel 3t), carries control. drum. 26. through a predetermined rotary distance. Pins 33 are arranged on drum Z6 ina predetermined pattern. so that as drum- 26 advances, pins. 33 on control drum 26 successively en.- gage withcooperating lever ends 36 which. are mounted rectilinearly in slotted lever end. frame 38' above said drurn- (see Figs. '4 and 6). Each of :a series of angle levers 35 is pivotally mounted at 35a in corresponding slot 37 in lever end frame38, although as shown in Figurev 2, frame 38 may be omitted if'desired and levers 3 'pivotaliy mounted on rod 35b. Spring 39 attached at 364 to lever 35 and at the other. end to control drum frame 40 urges lug 350 on each lever 35 (see Figs. 2, 4. and 5) into contact with its corresponding pin 33 on drum 26.

Sprocket '42 on control drum shaft 31 is engaged by roller 41. carried on arm 41a, held in contact by .a spring 43 to hold the drum in set position until moved stepwise by pawl 19.

' As each lever 35, at its lower end 35 d is connected by valve stem 8b to its associated valve 8 respectively as shown in Fig. 5, when a pin 33 on. drunrZe contacts lug 35cfon' lever 35, the latter is actuated (counterclockwise as shown in Figure 5) and valvev stem 8b pulled forward permits delivery of pneumatic fluid through inlet 6 from who 8' and the pressure source, into cylinder 4 and moveseach harness frame 13*up and down in accordance with the reciprocation of piston rod 9 connected 4 setforth above. There is-a valve 8 and associated levers 35, cylinders 4, etc. for each harness frame, and pneumatic fluid conduits 44 from line 47 to each valve 8.

The operation of each valve 8 controlled by its valve stem 86 through corresponding lever 35, provides a patterned response to the lever lifting action of pins 33 on control drum 26. This action provides the proper sequence of ply weaving operations of harness frames 13 and heddles.

In the arrangement described above, each harness frame 13 is moved vertically'up and down by a pair of'ti'erods 12, one on each side of frame 13, actuated from cylinder 4 by means of connecting rod 1! and harness levers 11, 11a, and 11b. Inthe alternative arrangement shown in Figure 3, each frame 13 is suspended by tie rods 12, and each of the rods is actuated by an individual cylinder 59, piston 51 of which actuates tie rod 52 connected through turn-buckle 53 (for adjustment) to tie rod 12. Each pair of cylinders 50 may be operated by a single valve 8 so that the movements of each pair of tie-rods 12 is coordinated and synchronized. with each other to give even movement of each frame.

At the closed ends of the shuttle race, the picker propels the shuttle back and forth in accordance with conventional practice. Each revolution of the loom shaft moves'the picker and shuttle as in the conventional loom. With the structure of the present invention, when the yarn breaks and the clutch is disengaged to interrupt the weaving operation, it is no longer necessary to move the yarn beam forward to loosen tension on all of the warp threads and then reset the beam for equalized tension after the repair is made, as in the conventional cam operated loom. All that need be done with the novel structure herein set forth is to move the separate harness frame and heddle which as explained above is independently mounted and separately powered by pneumatic motive fluid. No readjustment of the yarn beam need be made. The lint problem referred to above is, substantially eliminated since ample room is now had 'in the conventional loom frame by eliminating the cams for v the harness frames. Access for cleaning, adjustment and repair is far more advantageous than with the cam loom. Adjustment of the heddle travel is more easily effected. Greater weaving speeds are achieved with less breakage and with less wear onthe moving parts.

Having thus. set forth my invention, I claim:

1. In a loom including harness frames and heddles movable independently of rotation of the loom shaft, pneumatic fluid operated levers for moving the harness frames and heddles independently of movement of the loom shaft, and a drum fitted with control means for controlling flow of pneumatic fluid to actuate said levers by the mechanical engagement of said control means with said levers.

2. A loom as in claim 1 in which said control 'rneans are mounted on said drum and constitute pins on said drum arranged for actuating valve operating levers, and control valves for said pneumatic fluid which valves are are operated by said valve operating levers for actuating said harness frame levers and'heddles in sequence for multiple weaving.

3; -A loom as, in claim 2 in which the control 'drum carries aratchet for intermittent step-wise movement of the drum, a ratchet lever-contacting said ratchet and -actuated by" movement of: the loom'shaft to advance the ratchet and one step for each revolution of the loom shaft'whereby the sequence of heddle and shuttle movements are controlled.

'4. A loom as in claim 3 wherein said ratchet lever is eccentrically connected -to saidloom shaft through a train including a connecting arm, a bell cra'nk and a ratchet lever, whereby rotation of saidfshaft moves said ratchet lever to cause. step-wise movement of" saidna't-chet and saidctintrol drum. 7

,5. A loom as in claim 3 wherein each harness lever is connected to a piston rod operated by a cylinder actucylinders, the pistons actuating said levers for moving ated by pneumatic fluid from a control valve, thereby to r the harness frames. provide reciprocating motion to the harness frames in accordance with the engagement of pins on the drum References Cited in the file of this patent with levers controlling said valves. 5 U IT D STATES PATENTS 6. A loom as in claim 1 wherein the control means in eludes pneumatic cylinders, and pistons operated by said g fi i E 2,687,750 Weingartner Aug. 31, 1954 

